Three Tips for Great Photos with Your Kids

Everyone wants to have a great family photo and happy portraits with their kids. One of the things we hear the most is that parents are worried their kids will not cooperate. Don’t stress! We’ve got you covered on tips for how to achieve those picture perfect memories so you can relax and have fun along the way.

Timing is key.

There are several factors at work with the timing of the photo shoot. Photographers love shooting near sunrise and sunset because the lighting is golden and indirect, giving a colorful and magical feel to the photos. Try to plan around when your children are most likely to be rested and energetic. If they are up before dawn, an early morning shoot is best. If you have late sleepers, you may want to plan for a shoot later in the day after nap time and snacks.

Feed your kids before the shoot so they aren’t hungry, but don’t feed them during the shoot! If you feed your children during the shoot, you may end up with crumbs or stains in the photos. Bringing juice or water is a good idea. Even though the photo shoot usually lasts less than 45 minutes, your kids may be running around and playing and will get thirsty.

It is a good idea to have a backup outfit just in case of a spill or an accident; however, we don’t recommend changing clothes during the shoot. It breaks up the flow of the photo shoot and can turn a happy child into a grumpy one.

Have fun!

Your photographer will take a mix of posed portraits and candid action shots. Some of the best kid photos are captured when they’re allowed to be themselves. Their true personality comes out when they’re playing and being silly, so join in! Play with them - swing them in the air, hold hands and give hugs. These candid moments really capture what it is to be a family and you will treasure them for years to come.

Trust your photographer.

Your photographer has had years of experience photographing all ages of children and has some tricks up their sleeves to get natural smiles. Your job is to look at the camera and smile! There are countless times that the photographer is able to get the baby to look and smile, but the grownups are looking at the baby to see if he’s smiling or not. If your little child has a small toy that gets their attention, you may give it to the photographer to hold by the camera for their attention. Stay relaxed and don’t get frustrated about kids acting like kids - they will feel their parents’ stress and then no one looks like they are having a good time.

These three tips will set you up for a great photo session for the whole family with beautiful memories to treasure for a lifetime. Remember to have fun and let your kids be themselves.  Even if the photos come out with a few “kids being kids” moments, remember that this stage of life is fleeting and someday you will laugh about the tantrums and silly faces.

- Written by Marlise L. (Studio Em Photography at St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort)